Looking to join but have questions...
I was interested in joining in the past but have been busy getting an education and deploying to Afghanistan (Logar) where I am now. I know a little about it already but would like to talk with an experienced member. I will also be moving around with the military and may not be in one location for long time. If someone could give me advice I'd be interested in joining.
Originally Posted By FireStar:
I was interested in joining in the past but have been busy getting an education and deploying to Afghanistan (Logar) where I am now. I know a little about it already but would like to talk with an experienced member. I will also be moving around with the military and may not be in one location for long time. If someone could give me advice I'd be interested in joining.
Joining what?
ETA:
My apologies.
I missed the actual forum when I read the title of the thread.
Please disregard.
I'm not in the military, although there are a lot of military brothers. I can answer general questions about masonry and Texas masonry in particular.
The one bit of advice that I can think of off the top of my head is this. Make sure you join a regular recognized grand lodge. That will allow you to join your state grand lodge when you get home. We just had a retired military officer join our lodge. He was in the army in Korea and joined the Grand Lodge of Scotland. He retired back to his home in Texas and was able to come straight into the Grand Lodge of Texas because he was coming from a regular lodge. Just run whatever grand lodge you wish to join by the guys in this forum. (There are a large number of lodges out there that are irregular or clandestine. Which basically means that no "regular" lodge will have anything to do with them.)
Another bit of advice is optional. I would avoid any Prince Hall lodges. (Often referred to as PHA.) Their recognition is spotty and many brothers don't regard them favorably. I have no personal experience with them. Apparently Prince Hall lodges vary greatly in quality. On a historical and unrelated note, PHA lodges are often considered to be a form of African-American masonry and are typically all black in membership. Also note that Prince Hall masons are a contentious subject for some.
You will enjoy yourself greatly in masonry and get a lot out of it. It is unique. I'm sure that a Arfcom brother mason that is familiar with the area you are stationed in may have some particular advice as to lodges operating in your area.
IM sent
I'm located in cenrtal FL when I get back.
Originally Posted By JacobusRex:
I'm not in the military, although there are a lot of military brothers. I can answer general questions about masonry and Texas masonry in particular.
The one bit of advice that I can think of off the top of my head is this. Make sure you join a regular recognized grand lodge. That will allow you to join your state grand lodge when you get home. We just had a retired military officer join our lodge. He was in the army in Korea and joined the Grand Lodge of Scotland. He retired back to his home in Texas and was able to come straight into the Grand Lodge of Texas because he was coming from a regular lodge. Just run whatever grand lodge you wish to join by the guys in this forum. (There are a large number of lodges out there that are irregular or clandestine. Which basically means that no "regular" lodge will have anything to do with them.)
Another bit of advice is optional. I would avoid any Prince Hall lodges. (Often referred to as PHA.) Their recognition is spotty and many brothers don't regard them favorably. I have no personal experience with them. Apparently Prince Hall lodges vary greatly in quality. On a historical and unrelated note, PHA lodges are often considered to be a form of African-American masonry and are typically all black in membership. Also note that Prince Hall masons are a contentious subject for some.
You will enjoy yourself greatly in masonry and get a lot out of it. It is unique. I'm sure that a Arfcom brother mason that is familiar with the area you are stationed in may have some particular advice as to lodges operating in your area.
Originally Posted By JacobusRex:
I'm not in the military, although there are a lot of military brothers. I can answer general questions about masonry and Texas masonry in particular.
The one bit of advice that I can think of off the top of my head is this. Make sure you join a regular recognized grand lodge. That will allow you to join your state grand lodge when you get home. We just had a retired military officer join our lodge. He was in the army in Korea and joined the Grand Lodge of Scotland. He retired back to his home in Texas and was able to come straight into the Grand Lodge of Texas because he was coming from a regular lodge. Just run whatever grand lodge you wish to join by the guys in this forum. (There are a large number of lodges out there that are irregular or clandestine. Which basically means that no "regular" lodge will have anything to do with them.)
Another bit of advice is optional. I would avoid any Prince Hall lodges. (Often referred to as PHA.) Their recognition is spotty and many brothers don't regard them favorably. I have no personal experience with them. Apparently Prince Hall lodges vary greatly in quality. On a historical and unrelated note, PHA lodges are often considered to be a form of African-American masonry and are typically all black in membership. Also note that Prince Hall masons are a contentious subject for some.
You will enjoy yourself greatly in masonry and get a lot out of it. It is unique. I'm sure that a Arfcom brother mason that is familiar with the area you are stationed in may have some particular advice as to lodges operating in your area.
How does someone "join the grand lodge" without being a master mason in a blue lodge chartered by that state's grand lodge?
Originally Posted By Papabri:
Originally Posted By JacobusRex:
I'm not in the military, although there are a lot of military brothers. I can answer general questions about masonry and Texas masonry in particular.
The one bit of advice that I can think of off the top of my head is this. Make sure you join a regular recognized grand lodge. That will allow you to join your state grand lodge when you get home. We just had a retired military officer join our lodge. He was in the army in Korea and joined the Grand Lodge of Scotland. He retired back to his home in Texas and was able to come straight into the Grand Lodge of Texas because he was coming from a regular lodge. Just run whatever grand lodge you wish to join by the guys in this forum. (There are a large number of lodges out there that are irregular or clandestine. Which basically means that no "regular" lodge will have anything to do with them.)
Another bit of advice is optional. I would avoid any Prince Hall lodges. (Often referred to as PHA.) Their recognition is spotty and many brothers don't regard them favorably. I have no personal experience with them. Apparently Prince Hall lodges vary greatly in quality. On a historical and unrelated note, PHA lodges are often considered to be a form of African-American masonry and are typically all black in membership. Also note that Prince Hall masons are a contentious subject for some.
You will enjoy yourself greatly in masonry and get a lot out of it. It is unique. I'm sure that a Arfcom brother mason that is familiar with the area you are stationed in may have some particular advice as to lodges operating in your area.
How does someone "join the grand lodge" without being a master mason in a blue lodge chartered by that state's grand lodge?
I am referring to making sure he joins a lodge chartered by and under the jurisdiction of a grand lodge that is considered regular by mainstream masonry.
Originally Posted By JacobusRex:
Originally Posted By Papabri:
Originally Posted By JacobusRex:
I'm not in the military, although there are a lot of military brothers. I can answer general questions about masonry and Texas masonry in particular.
The one bit of advice that I can think of off the top of my head is this. Make sure you join a regular recognized grand lodge. That will allow you to join your state grand lodge when you get home. We just had a retired military officer join our lodge. He was in the army in Korea and joined the Grand Lodge of Scotland. He retired back to his home in Texas and was able to come straight into the Grand Lodge of Texas because he was coming from a regular lodge. Just run whatever grand lodge you wish to join by the guys in this forum. (There are a large number of lodges out there that are irregular or clandestine. Which basically means that no "regular" lodge will have anything to do with them.)
Another bit of advice is optional. I would avoid any Prince Hall lodges. (Often referred to as PHA.) Their recognition is spotty and many brothers don't regard them favorably. I have no personal experience with them. Apparently Prince Hall lodges vary greatly in quality. On a historical and unrelated note, PHA lodges are often considered to be a form of African-American masonry and are typically all black in membership. Also note that Prince Hall masons are a contentious subject for some.
You will enjoy yourself greatly in masonry and get a lot out of it. It is unique. I'm sure that a Arfcom brother mason that is familiar with the area you are stationed in may have some particular advice as to lodges operating in your area.
How does someone "join the grand lodge" without being a master mason in a blue lodge chartered by that state's grand lodge?
I am referring to making sure he joins a lodge chartered by and under the jurisdiction of a grand lodge that is considered regular by mainstream masonry.
I think there are some military lodges that do not have a full charter with a state in this country.
Originally Posted By JacobusRex:
I am referring to making sure he joins a lodge chartered by and under the jurisdiction of a grand lodge that is considered regular by mainstream masonry.
Understood, thanks, and you are correct. Join ONLY a legally-constituted (chartered) lodge.
If anyone wants to join a lodge, it is your right to ask to see their charter, or at least look them up on your state's Grand Lodge roster.
Originally Posted By sigp226:
Originally Posted By JacobusRex:
Originally Posted By Papabri:
Originally Posted By JacobusRex:
I'm not in the military, although there are a lot of military brothers. I can answer general questions about masonry and Texas masonry in particular.
The one bit of advice that I can think of off the top of my head is this. Make sure you join a regular recognized grand lodge. That will allow you to join your state grand lodge when you get home. We just had a retired military officer join our lodge. He was in the army in Korea and joined the Grand Lodge of Scotland. He retired back to his home in Texas and was able to come straight into the Grand Lodge of Texas because he was coming from a regular lodge. Just run whatever grand lodge you wish to join by the guys in this forum. (There are a large number of lodges out there that are irregular or clandestine. Which basically means that no "regular" lodge will have anything to do with them.)
Another bit of advice is optional. I would avoid any Prince Hall lodges. (Often referred to as PHA.) Their recognition is spotty and many brothers don't regard them favorably. I have no personal experience with them. Apparently Prince Hall lodges vary greatly in quality. On a historical and unrelated note, PHA lodges are often considered to be a form of African-American masonry and are typically all black in membership. Also note that Prince Hall masons are a contentious subject for some.
You will enjoy yourself greatly in masonry and get a lot out of it. It is unique. I'm sure that a Arfcom brother mason that is familiar with the area you are stationed in may have some particular advice as to lodges operating in your area.
How does someone "join the grand lodge" without being a master mason in a blue lodge chartered by that state's grand lodge?
I am referring to making sure he joins a lodge chartered by and under the jurisdiction of a grand lodge that is considered regular by mainstream masonry.
I think there are some military lodges that do not have a full charter with a state in this country.
The military lodge would have to have a charter issued by a grand lodge that was considered recognized in order to make him a regular mason or he wouldn't be able to join a regular lodge when he got back home. He would have to make sure that the lodge he petitioned was in the "list of lodges masonic" in the Grand Lodge of FL. (Assuming he was coming home to Florida.) Also, one other situation that would have to be avoided would be joining a PHA lodge if he planed on joining a non-PHA lodge. (There are a lot of PHA military lodges and those guys can't come back and join their home town lodge in many cases.)
For example, I can visit or join the Grand Lodge of England because they recognize the Grand Lodge of Texas as "regular".
